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There was lots of excitement and plenty of personal bests for Radcliffe Athletic Club athletes at the Bury Mile.

The club had the largest turnout of 20 runners at the event to mark the official opening of the refurbished athletics track in Market Street.

Runners completed four laps of the track in one of seven races, with the fastest athletes competing in race seven. Part of Radcliffe’s club championship, members claimed positions in nearly every race that they competed in.

John Gibbs won race five in 5:11.9, pipping Gary Adkins who clocked 5:12.7 just days after his superb personal best of 2:57:10 in the London Marathon.

Steven Fawcett ran 6:04.7 in race four while Marc Taylor topped the podium with a time of 5:30.1 in race three. Mark Taylor was fourth in 6:03.6, ahead of Adam Wills (6:09.0), Mark Garner 6:17.4) and David Bartlett (7:12.1).

Ethan Malone produced the most thrilling sprint finish running 6:39.4 to claim second in race two, just ahead of Warren Simmens who was third in 6:40.9. Also running were Charlene Leyden (6:44.3), Chemane Golding (7:14.1) and Stephen Crowe (7:22.0).

There were plenty of RAC runners in race one where Charlotte Holden was second in 7:27.0. Also taking part were Karen Doherty (7:54.6), Emma Wolstencroft (8:14.0), Caroline Malone (8:25.1) and Helen Kay (8:25.9). 

Michael Scott ran 11:09.0 in his first race since suffering a heart attack while Andy Wheeler, who has also returned to running after a heart attack, ran 10:29.9.

Returning to winning ways after injury was a “piece of cake” for Sheila Jones. She was first V65 in the popular 10k race of the same name, completing the challenging course in Boggart Hole Clough in 54:13.

Rob Shiels was a superb seventh in 20:11 in the mid-week Clowbridge 5k. He was joined on he trails by Donna Cartwright who won the WV45 age group in 22:47.

Meanwhile, there were wet conditions on the trails when four members took part in the 5-mile Ladies Trail Race in Worsley Woods. Katherine Biddle was the club’s first finisher in 43:39 and also running were Alison Howarth (44:02), Helen Kay (48:38) and Tracy Wroe (50:26).

RAC runners were out in force at the popular Saturday morning 5k parkruns. The biggest contingent was at Heaton Park where John Gibbs was second in 17:49 and Mark Taylor clocked 21:34 to notch up his 150^th parkrun. Joining them were Rob Shiels (19:30), Marc Taylor (20:24), Simon Foulkes (20:38), Mark Garner (21:29), Charlene Leyden (23:24), Ethan Malone (24:40), Alison Howarth (25:22), Charlotte Holden (27:22) and Andy Wheeler (36:14).

Results from other parkruns: Alderford Lake – Bev Quinton (45:21); Bolton – Mark Williams (23:28); Ganavan Sands - Mike Kontowtt (21:19); Lyme Park – Elaine Bailey (31:50); Oakwell Hall – Peter Hunter (24:11); Penrhyn – Tracy Wroe (31:24); Philips Park – Helen Kay (29:29); Sandall Park - Stephen Crowe (28:14); Stamford Park – Katherine Biddle (26:29).